Review and Synthesis of Reading in Post-Secondary Occupational Education.

Thornton, L. Jay

A literature review was conducted to examine reading skills development in selected educational systems delivering postsecondary occupational education. The systems chosen were two-year, junior, and community colleges; area vocational-technical schools and adult programs; training centers; correctional institutions; the military; and business and industry. Criteria for including reports in the review reflected curricular and occupational concerns. The literature proved to be nearly devoid of references to reading skills development directly related to the practice of an occupational specialty. When reading skills were treated at all, they were treated as a curricular issue, usually as a means of treating disadvantaged groups in reading programs designed for that purpose (remedial and English as a second language). (The literature review contains chapters focusing on each of the selected postsecondary systems, a summary of the findings, and a discussion of research necessary to improve the treatment of reading in occupational education.) (RL)